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Tatsuya Imai

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Tatsuya Imai
Imai with the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2023
Houston Astros – No. 45
Pitcher
Born: (1998-05-09) May 9, 1998 (age 27)
Kanuma, Tochigi, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: June 13, 2018, for the Saitama Seibu Lions
MLB: March 29, 2026, for the Houston Astros
NPB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Win–loss record58–45
Earned run average3.15
Strikeouts907
MLB statistics
(through April 10, 2026)
Win–loss record1–0
Earned run average7.27
Strikeouts13
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
U-18 Asian Baseball Championship
Gold medal – first place 2016 Taichung Team

Tatsuya Imai (今井 達也, Imai Tatsuya; born May 9, 1998) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions. He made his NPB debut in 2018, and is a three-time NPB All-Star.

Career

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College career

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He started playing baseball in the first grade of elementary school. While attending Kanuma City Nishi Junior High School, he played for the "Kanuma Red Sox," a local club team, and participated in the national baseball tournament. After graduating from junior high school, he enrolled in Sakushin Gakuin High School, where he became the winning pitcher of the 98th National High School Baseball Championship.

Saitama Seibu Lions

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Imai made his NPB debut in 2018 with the Saitama Seibu Lions.[1] Imai struggled in his early career. His earned run average (ERA) was 4.81 in 2018, 4.32 in 2019, and 6.13 in 2020.[2] He vastly improved in 2021, pitching to a 3.30 ERA. He has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in every full season since then.[3]

On April 18, 2025, Imai and Kaima Taira combined to no-hit the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at the Belluna Dome. Imai pitched the first eight innings, with Taira coming in to complete the no-hitter in the ninth inning.[4] On June 17, Imai struck out 17 batters in a game against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, surpassing a club record previously held by Daisuke Matsuzaka.[5] On June 21, it was announced that Imai, along with first baseman Tyler Nevin, received the May Taiju Life Insurance Monthly MVP.[6]

Houston Astros

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The Lions posted Imai to Major League Baseball in November 2025, giving him until January 2, 2026, to sign.[7] Imai signed a three-year contract with the Houston Astros for $54 million.[8] On April 13, Imai was placed on the 10-day injured list for right arm fatigue, retroactive to April 12. [9]

Pitching style

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Imai is a 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), 176 lb (80 kg) right-handed pitcher.[10] With a low three-quarters delivery,[11] he throws a fastball sitting around 95 miles per hour (153 km/h), which tops out at 99 miles per hour (159 km/h),[12] an above-average mid-80s slider, and a changeup.[13][14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "【コラム】...（※記事タイトル）". 週刊ベースボールONLINE (in Japanese). ベースボール･マガジン社. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  2. ^ Karasawa, Yuri (June 18, 2025). "Tatsuya Imai Strikes Out 17, Breaks Daisuke's Franchise Record". World Baseball Network. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  3. ^ Eustace, AJ (November 11, 2025). "Mets Interested In Tatsuya Imai". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  4. ^ ""No-hitter, one-run" Seibu's first rare record in 61 years. Tatsuya Imai led a "no hit, no runs game" for the fifth time in professional baseball". pacificleague.com. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  5. ^ "x.com".
  6. ^ "7/8(火) 今井達也投手、タイラー・ネビン選手5月度『大樹生命月間MVP』受賞連盟表彰式開催のお知らせ". 埼玉西武ライオンズ (in Japanese). 2025-06-21. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  7. ^ Murphy, Brian (November 18, 2025). "Tatsuya Imai posted by Seibu Lions for MLB team". MLB.com. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  8. ^ McTaggart, Brian (January 2, 2026). "Tatsuya Imai signs three-year deal with Astros". MLB.com. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  9. ^ McTaggart, Brian. "Astros place Peña (hamstring), Imai (arm fatigue) on IL, recall France, Gordon". MLB.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  10. ^ "Imai,Tatsuya（Saitama Seibu Lions）". npb.jp. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  11. ^ "【西武投手王国への道】シーズンを通じて安定した投球 今井達也が三振を量産できた理由「技術より、フィジカルや筋力が最初に来ないといけない」 | 野球コラム". 週刊ベースボールONLINE.
  12. ^ "【西武】今井達也「全然良くない」も自己最速更新160キロ エースの仕事全う８回1失点５勝目 - プロ野球 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com.
  13. ^ Johnson, Jack (2025-11-07). "The Giants Can't Afford to Miss on This Japanese Ace". San Francisco Giants On SI. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
  14. ^ Polishuk, Mark (November 9, 2025). "Tatsuya Imai To Be Posted For MLB Teams This Offseason". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
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